Fishing reel



awn! Ema April 13, 1954 R. D. HULL 2,675,193

FISHING REEL Filed July 26, 1949 FIG. I g

1 VENTOR. )Z 911/ flaw? ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FISHING REEL R. Dell Hull, Tulsa, Okla. Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,771 14 Claims. (01. 24.2-44.6)

This invention relates to fishing reels and more particularly to devices of the spinning reel type. This application is a continuation in part of my copenoing applications Serial No. ,211, filed April 6, 1948. and Serial No. 56 filed January 27, 1949, both now abandoned.

In such devices the spool on which the line is wound remains stationary during casting and rewinding. Rewinding is controlled by a rotatable head which guides the line on to the spool.

In prior constructions this head has also remained stationary during casting. In the present construction I provide a reel in which the head rotates during casting and during rewinding. It is provided withnotches w "ch guide the line on to the spool during rewinding and which are so shaped that they throw the line away from the head when the cast is finished. permitting the head to continue to revolve without affecting the line. back lash and permits perfect control of the cast from beginning to end.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of improved braking mechanism mounted on the rear side of the reel which can convenirotating member carried by the shaft on which the head is mounted.

A further improved feature of the device is the provision of a cover member which prevents the line from belling or spiraling as it comes on the spool. In the absence of the improved cover member, the centrifugal force, as the line is thrown oil the spool in casting, causes the spiraling line and the friction of the line hitting against the rod retards the free flow of the line and thus interferes with the casting.

The construction thus provided eliminates 20 an improved clutch mechanism for efiecting en-.

per se, form the subject matter or .my copending application, Serial No. 73,055, filed January 2 1949, now Patent No. 2,541,360.

in the accompanying drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showmg:

Fig. l is an elevation of the reel in position on a fishing rod; ,I ig. z is a transverse, vertical, sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view on line 3-3 01' Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 l8 adetailed, sectional view of the clutch mechanism on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

5 is a detailed, sectional view of a click mechanism on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rotatable head and a portion of the spool.

Referring to the drawing, the reference nuthe end of the supporting plate 5. The reel comprises a casing 9 formed of any suitable material and provided With a front cover I and a rear cover ll. These covers snugly fit on the casing and may be removed when desired.

ried a head I! which, as shown, comprises a disc of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the spool and provided with a flange l8 extending rearwardly over the spool. The edge of to permit the gears 2i and 22 to be engaged and It extends from the hub disengaged. Bearing H of pinion 2| to the spinner head If. The use of this single bearin takes care of end play and eliminates all aligning difficulties. V l

Mounted on the wall 28 of the casing, which forms the rear of the spool, is abear-ing block.

21. The shaft 23 is movable in a bore in this 4 the additional air resistance of the spiraling line. It will also be noted that the line is fed from the spool in a more nearly straight line and as it passes through the opening 46 it is not necessary for the line to make an abrupt change in direction to feed outwardly along the rod. The con struction also permits the reel to be used on a conventional or offset casting rod as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing.

While the cover is illustrated as a cone, or a frustrum of a cone, other shapes that provide a substantially central location for opening 33, as

far away from the spinner head as possible and still permit the reel to be mounted on a convenblock. A spring 28 is arranged between the bear ing block and a washer 23 mounted on the shaft. The spring normally retains the shaft 23 to the right in Fig. 2 to disengage the gears El and 22.

On the portion 'of the shaft within the bearing block the shaft is provided with a circumferential groove til curvedbn a circular radius.

A clutch operating rod or shaft 3! extends through-an opening in the'to'p of the casing and is provided'witha button 32 on its upper end. A

coil sprin 33 is arrangedbn'the shaft between the top or" the'bearin'g block 2? and. a washer 34, which iss'eoured tothe'shaft 3|. A washer 35 is locked on the lower end of the rod or shaft 31' to limit its upwardino'vement 'The portion of the rod or shaft within the bearing blockis also provided withacircumferential groove 33 out on the radius of a circle.

The reel is also provided with a click mecha nism formed of a single piece 3'1 of flat spring steel. The intermediate portion 38 is arranged to lie flat against the face of Wall 2'6 and is pivoted thereon by means of a pivot pin 39. The end portion 4% is bent at'right angles to the intermediate portion to lie parallel to the wall of the casing 9 and is provid'd with athumb button 4i extending through openin 32 to the exterior of the "casing. The op osite end 52' or the strip is narrowed and twisted at'light angles to the'plane of the intermediate portion forming a flexible The brakemecliani'sm consists of a disc-like member 53 whichis mounted on a hub 44. The hub iss'ec'ured to'the'main shaft M. The brake is shaped't'o follow thebontour of the cover member Hand is slightly spaced from it. The cover membr'is'providedwith an opening 45 through which "the thumb ma be placed to engage the brake'member.

in' Figs. 1 and 3 f the drawing, the front cover comprises a cylindrical flange 50 which is snugly received on' the casing 9. Beyond the plane of thespom l2 and the head [1 it is providedwith a curved or generally conical portion i havin the'op'ening "46 arranged at the center and in 'aiii'alalignrnent with the shaft 15. In'the' preferred-form of the invention the conical portion'is at an angle or substantially 55 a lthough this angle may, of course, vary within widel'imits. The provision ofthe conical wall 5l"with the opening 46 centrally located at the top of the cone tends tolovercome the effect of centrifugalfforce as the line is thrown on; the

spool and thus eliminates the friction caused by the line flapping against the rod, together with tional casting rod, may be employed.

casting, the gears 21 and 22 are disengaged.

- similar shape.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. Normally in The cast is mad'e'in the'usual manner and the Weight of the lure causes the line to be fed from the reel. The line passing over the head engages one of the notches l9 and rotatesthe head. As long as the line is being pulled from the spool, the head continues to revolve. When the cast is finished and the line stops'i'ts outward pull, the line is thrown from the notch in the head which permits the head'to continue to rotate until its rotation is stopped by friction. This results in'the elimination of any back lash.

During casting, the brake member 43 rotates with the shaftl i. It will be noted that the openin G5 is disposed on the rear cover member permitting th brake to be operated by the thumb. The caster holdin the handle portion 2 of the rod with his forefinger on the finger grip 41 may use his thumb at any time to brake the release of the line from the'spool. By pressing the ball of the thumb through the opening 45 into contact with the disc 43, the braking operation is effected. The front cover is provided with an opening 3, preferably centrally arranged, through'which the line is fed.

To disengage the pinions 2| and 22 during the casting operation, rod 3| is moved downwardly by thumb pressure applied to its upper end to overcome'the'force of spring 33. This moves the groove 33 downwardly into registration with shaft 23. Shaft 23 is then frceto move to the right under the force of spring 28. The spacing between the face of block 21 and the adjacent face of th hub of pinion 22 is so dimensioned that the left hand end of groove 30 will stop before reaching the axis of rod 31. This provides an off-center contact betweenthe curved surfaces of the grooves when the pinions are disengaged. As long as shaft 23 remains stationary, the pressure of coil spring 28 will maintain the grooves in engagement and maintain the pinions disengaged, thus permitting free rotation of shaft I 4 and the spinner head.

'When the line is to be rewound, the pinions 2l and i zmay be re-engaged by turning handle 25 in either direction. When shaft 23 is rotated, the curved surfaces of the grooves an and 36, which are in engagement, function as cams and rotation of the shaft initiates relative movement of these surfaces. Coil spring 33 is of greater strength than coil spring 28 and when this moveengaged, and means 3! moves upwardly under the urging of spring 33. The cam action of the sloping surface of groove 36 and the sloping surface of groove 30 produces a movement of shaft 23 to the left to bring the pinions into engagement. Thus, when the pinions are to be brought into mesh for rewinding, it is merely necessary to begin turning the shaft 23 without resorting to any other mechanical operation to engage the clutch.

The click device is shown in Fig. 2 in operative position. By moving the button 4| downwardly, the device is swung on pivot 39 to bring the end 42' out of engagement with the teeth of pinion 2|.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a device of the spinning reel type which is of simpler construction than of this sort heretofore employed and which has many advantages over such prior devices. While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is of course understood that modifications therein, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool in the casing, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotating head mounted on the shaft in front of the spool, the head being provided with a peripheral flange extending over the spool, the edge of the flange being shaped to form portions to be engaged by a line, a crank shaft mounted in the casing and being axially movable, gears on the shaft and crank shaft to mesh with each other in one position of the crank shaft, and means for moving the crank shaft to bring the gears into and out of engagement.

2. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool gears on the shaft and crank shaft to mesh with each other in one position of the crank shaft, a spring surrounding the crank shaft to normally retain it in a position in which the gears are disfor locking the shaft in position to engage the gears.

3. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool in the casing, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotating head mounted on the shaft, the head being provided with a peripheral flange extending over the spool, the edge of the flange being shaped to form portions to be engaged by tion in which the gears are disengaged, the crank shaft being provided with a circumferential groove, and an actuating member arranged at an angle to the crank shaft, said actuating member having a circumferential groove engaging the groove of the crank shaft.

4. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool in the front part of the casing, a shaft extending to the rear end of the shaft, the casing being provided with an opening adjacent the disc.

5. A casting reel comprising a spool, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotating head mounted on the shaft in front of the spool, the edge portion of said head adjacent the spool being shaped to engage a line passing to and from said spool, means for rotating said shaft and said head to retrieve and wind line onto the spool, and clutch means to disconnect said shaft and head rotating means from said shaft and head to permit free rotation of said head by the line during a casting operation.

6. A casting reel comprising a spool, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotating head mounted on the shaft in front of the spool, said head and said spool being fixed against relative movement axially of each other, and means projecting from the edge portion of the head adjacent said spool adapted to be engaged by a line during casting to rotate the head and being further adapted to pick up the line when the head is rotated in the opposite direction to rewind the line, said means being so constructed and arranged that it is disengaged by the line during all portions of a casting operation when the head may rotate faster than the line is withdrawn from the spool.

7. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool fixedly mounted in the casing, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotatable head comprising a disc fixed to the shaft in front of the spool, said head and said spool being fixed against relative movement axially of each other, the head being provided with a flange extending over the spool, and means projecting from said flange adapted to be engaged by a line during casting to rotate the head and being further adapted to pick up the line when the head is rotated in the opposite direction to rewind the line, said means being so constructed and arranged that it is disengaged by the line during all portions of a casting. operation when the head may rotate faster than the line is withdrawn from the spool.

8. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool 11 the front part of the casing, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotatable head fixed to the shaft in front of said spool, said head and said spool being fixed against relative movement axially of each other, the edge portion of the head adjacent the spool being shaped to engage a line passing to and from the said spool, means for rotating said shaft and said head to wind 2. line on said spool, and clutch means for disconnecting said rotating means from said shaft whereby said shaft and head may rotate freely during casting.

9. A casting reel according to claim 8 in which a portion of the casing overlies said rotatable head, said portion being generally cone-shaped and being provided with a central opening for the passage of the line.

10. A casting reel comprising a casing, a spool fixedly mounted in the casing, a shaft extending through the spool, a rotatable head comprising the head and being further adapted to pick up the line when the head is rotated in the opposite direction to rewind the line, said means being so constructed and arranged that it is disena evm oe gages by the line during any'portion of-a easting operation-when the headmay rotate faster thanthe line. is withdrawniromthe spool, means for-rotatingsaid shaitand said head to retrieve and windline onto the spool, and clutch means lie-disconnect said shaft and head rotating means tram said shaft and head to permit free rotation of saidhead by the line during the casting operation.

1 1. A casting reelcomprising a spool, a rotatinghead mounted in front of the spool, the edge portion of said head adjacent the spool being shaped to engage a :line passing to and from saidspool, meansfor rotating said head to retrieve andwindline onto the spool, and clutch means to; disconnect said head rotating means from said head to permit free rotation of said head by the line during a casting operation;

12. A- casting reel comprising a spool a rotating=headmounted in front of the spool, the. edge portion of said head adjacent'the spool being shaped. to engage. a: line passing to and from spool, means for rotating said head to retrieve and Wind line onto the: spool, clutch means to disconnect said head rotating. means irom'said head to permit free rotation of said head by the line during acasting operation, and brake means mounted rearwardly of the spool to control the line during casting.

1.3..A reel including a pool constructed for casting line directly from the spool, said reel comprising a shaft extending through the spool, a rotating head mounted on the shaft in front of the spool, said head and said spool being permanently fixed against relative movement axially of each other, and the edge portion of the head adjacent said. spool being shaped and permanently positioned to engage a line passing to. and fromsaid spool and said head being freely rotatable by the line in its passage from the spool during'casting.

14. A reel including a spool constructed for casting line directly-from the spool, said reel eompnsia assert extending"- through the spool, arotatirig headmounted on 'the shaft in front or the-spooL-said 'head and said spool being perinanently fixed againstrelative movement axially of each other, and the edge portion of the headadjacent said'spool being shaped and permanently'pesitioned' toengage a line passin te -andiromsaidspool and saidhead being freely rotatable by the line in its passage from the spool-during casting, and brake means mounted rearwardly of the spool to: control the line during casting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nuniber Name Date 16,626 Deacon Feb. 10, 1857 390,752 Cashin Oct. 9", 1 888 632,079 Wilcox et a1. Aug. 29,1899 2,034,917 Miller Mar. 2 4, 1936 2,179,413 Kolosso Nov. 7, 1939 2,229,470 Pezon Jan. 21, 1941 2,344,209 Lowe Mar. 14, 1944 2,428,324 Worden Sept. 30, 1947 2,492,587 Ledinghain Dec. 27,1949 2,597,457 R-ix May 9, 1950 2,548,073 Sie grist Apr. 10, 1951 2,584,020 Humphreys Jan. 29, 1952 2,609,558 Mauborgne June 17, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,597 Great Britain June 14, 1908 'of'1'90'7 8,517 Great'Britain Apr. 8, 1910 Of 1910 18,723 Great'Britain Aug. 9, 1910 Y of 1910 7 383,438 Great Britain NOV. 17, 1932 418,837 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1934 816,045 -France "Apr. 19, 1937 "487,818 Great Britain June 2'7, 1938 999,825 France Jan. 7, 1946 awe w 

